An 18-year-old man was shot to death Thursday afternoon after gunfire erupted on a quiet Irish Channel street corner, police said. Noland Alofipo was found shot multiple times in the 2800 block of Chippewa Street, said John Gagliano, chief investigator and spokesman for the Orleans Parish Coroner's office.

Neighbors said they heard the gunshots ring out shortly after 2:30 p.m. and the mirror of car parked outside of Pete's Bar on the corner of Sixth and Chippewa Streets was left riddled with holes. Another neighbor said the gunfire set off her house alarm.

When detectives arrived on the scene they found Alofipo's body in the middle of the street. He had been shot multiple times and was pronounced dead on the scene, police said.

The mother of Alofipo was too grief-stricken to speak after hearing
of her son's death and sat in the middle of the sidewalk, crying, while
other family members surrounded her and attempted to provide
some comfort.

"He was just 18, only 18-years-old. He was too young," sobbed Alofipo's sister, Thellme.

"He had a daughter and was a good father. He had a good heart," she said.

President of the Irish Channel Neighborhood Association, Kara Morgan, 39, lives around the corner from where the shooting occurred and said she heard multiple gunshots.

"I heard at least a dozen shots fired," Morgan said.

"I heard the shots and ran out of the house but didn't see anything by the time I got outside," said Morgan, adding that this is the third murder in the neighborhood since she moved in seven years ago.

Other neighbors said they were shocked by the killing and said that block is usually considered a relatively safe area.

"It used to be worse but it's gotten a lot better here," Morgan said. "We try to work with the youth here and we try to do anything we can to make this a safe place to live. You do what you can, but sometimes it's just not enough," she said.

Detectives said they are in the process of gathering evidence that will help identify a suspect and motive in Alofipo's murder. No arrests have been made at this time.

Homicide detective Elizabeth Garcia is in charge of the investigation and can be reached at 658-5300.

Anyone with any information on the shooting is asked to call Crimestoppers at 504.822.1111 or toll-free at 877.903.7867.

People can also text tips to C-R-I-M-E-S (274637); text TELLCS then
the crime information. Callers or texters do not have to give their
names or testify and can earn a $2,500 reward for information that leads
to an indictment.